Liquid diffuser



Jn. 17, 1950 F, S, ABBQTT 2,494,64@

LIQUID DIFFUSER Filed NOV. 2, 1945 Patented Jan. 17, Y1950 LIQUIDDIFFUSER kFurman S. Abbott, Montclair, N. J., assignor to Airkem, Inc.,New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 2, 1946,Serial No. 707,402

The present invention relates to liquid diffusers and, moreparticularly, to such devices adapted to disperse vapors from'liquidsinto passing currents of air created by any suitable means. such as afan.

A general object of the present invention is the provision of suchliquid diffuser which is readily and economically constructed andassembled and which eiiciently delivers into air currents vapors of theliquid from wick means in a controlled manner so that as the amount ofliquid in the device is depleted by such evaporation fresh, relativelyunclogged portions of the Wick means are exposed to the air currentstolassure efficient evaporation or delivery of the vapors at apredetermined rate.

A more specific object` of the invention is to provide such 'a devicecharacterized by a container in which one or more strips of wicking aresuspended with the surface of the body ofv wicking whereby, as the floatmeans descends' with liquid depletion, fresh portions of the wickingvwill be exposed above the oat.

` Another object of the present invention is t provide such a device foreicient delivery of vapors from a liquid containing minute particles,some of which may tend to clog a longexposed portion of wicking, withoat means therein substantially limiting vapor delivery to strip wickingdepending past the oat means via a notch or hole therein into a body ofthe liquid therebeneath, the parts being so dimensioned and related asto assure the exposure therein to passing air currents of asubstantially uniform amount of fresh wicking surface immediately abovethe float means with descent of the latter during progressiveevaporation of the liquid saturating portions of the wicking exposedthereabove, to offset progressive downward clogm ging of the wicking.

A further object of the present invention is to provide in such a devicebaiile means which, in directing the passage of air currents between aninlet and outlet, create eddy currents that are temporarily divertedfrom the main currents 55 Claims. (Cl. 261-104) wick means and carrythem back into the main currents of air travelling between the inlet andoutlet.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide astructural embodiment of the device which is readily constructed andpermits eiiicient use and operation thereof in a variety of airconditioning or various draft air circulating systems.

Other objects of the invention will in part -be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in

which: Fig. 1 is an elevational perspective of a typical airconditioning unit suitable for use in a room for recirculation of airthereinand equipped at its inlet with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

Fig. l2 is an enlarged perspective view of a container construction ofthe embodiment of the device of the present invention shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side sectional elevation of an embodiment of the deviceshown in Fig. 1 which includes the container of Fig. 2, and with partsof the air conditioning unit on which the device is mounted shown partlyin section and with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational section of the structure shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of sleeve structure for liningthe wick holes in the float oi the embodiment of the present inventionshown in Figs. 3 and 4; and

Fig. 6 Yis avertical sectional view of the sleeve structure shown inFig. 5.

Referring to the drawing similar numerals identify like partsthroughout.

rlhe embodiment or" the present invention shown by way of example in thedrawing may be employed to advantage in connection with a self-containedair conditioning unit adapted for treating and tempering air in a room.Such a unit, as is well known, may include a fan for forced aircirculation, means for adjusting the humidity and, if desired, coolingthe room air as it is circulated through the unit. Such a unit Iii isshown by way of example in Fig. 1 which may include an end wall having,as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, an inlet passage 2 therein through which roomair is to be drawn into the unit and after circulation .anda ytreat-yment therein discharged through suitable out. lets, such as |3. Theinlet passage 2, if desired, may be dampered in any suitable manner forcontrol of the rate of volume of passingVA air.

The device of the present invention Ymayi'b'e mounted upon the airconditioning unit' I IJ at its inlet i2 to an advantage and, for thispurpose, may comprise a containerY 14 Ysubstantiallyy rectangular incross section including a bottom,

l5, substantially vertically disposed opposed side walls .|6, i6, frontwall il and back iwail `VI8..

The back wall .|8 of lthe container |.4-is preferably provided with avertical-,extension |9..haV-. ing a notch .2B therein toserve-.asfanoutlet passage. The backwallextension lhasvapairof keyholes2l, 2| to cooperate Withheadedscrews 22, 22 xed on the air conditioningunit side wall il for supportof the'device-of thepresent invention, withthe notch locatedin com-z municative relation tothe inlet 2 of the,unit.|0.

The upper edges of -back wall .extension lslf'of container lll. arebentoutwardly-to provide cover supporting lips 23, 23, behindwhichisremovably engageda bracket 24 iiXed-tothe-underfside of top .25of aicup-shapedcover-ZB. .The cover 26 has a front Wall 2l, side-Walls-28, 28 and a bottom wall 29. The back.of.cover,.26 Tis open andis to beclosed by inner-partsofthe device and/or the airconditioningiunit sidei-wall when the device is mounted vin .thevposition shown in Figs. l, 3 and 4.' The cover v.26 func-L tionallyserves asa cap or coverfforlthe top-.portion of the container fleandornamentallydecofrates the remaining portion of thefdevice. Ofcourse, the container |4 litself v.may be modified. in such manner as toprovide the structural functions of the-.cover 2,6 ormayincludestructural elements providing the .same desired func.- tional features,indicated hereinafter.

As previously indicated-the Vnotch .20 :in Vthecontainer back Wallextension l, in cooperation With the top v of'the.coVer2.2.6,I-=provides'an-.outlet-passage Vfor this embodimentfof thepresent invention. Inletpassages for entranceof :air` into the device vat the top portionnof.the-container ifi are provided `by means of grilled openings 3G, 35inthe topportions ofthe .side .walls 28, 23 of the cover 26. Thus inoperation of the` air conditioning unit lil with airsuction applied atthe inlet opening I2 in the side `Wall l there of, currents oi air willbe drawn through the grilled openings 3|), 3c from'opposite sides.toward the center and through the fnotch 2li-1in the container backvwall |81 The container |4 has an extension f3l-on-each side wall I6thereof, each iofl-whichfthoughit may be made-separatexfromiandfastenedtoror supported on its side Wallppreferablyis ymade. integral therewithA-as shown. Eachfextension 3| is bent inwardly 'to provide an-upwardlyextending oblique baille f plate terminating, y in -a I lip portion 32.Each oblique bafflelplate y3| extends; from a point below'the bottomportionpof-the. grilled opem'ng 32 adjacent thereto upwardlyfso thatiitslipiportion 32 :is higherthanfa straight 'lfrwickmgmaterialandinterferingqwith freeupand:

:turbulence in the space beneath the baiile plates 3|,-'3| there to pickup vapors, will be drawn out to again .join the main currents of airpassing '.betweenthe inlets `3|), 39 and the outlet 20, as

indicated .by .the -arrows in Fig. 4.

The lipl portion 32 of each oblique baffle plate 3| ispreferably-slotted to provide suspending `means :orr iingers 33E-33,some of which may serve to support loops of wicking strips Sil- 34.The'lwicking strips may be madeof any suitable material, such'as-loosely matted felt or:=woven lamp wicking. Therwickingstrips 3-34.preferablyfare--sosupportedas to be laterally spaced apart to assureeicient exposure of substantially all offthe -surfacesthereoftothe-.eddy currents of air. Each wicking strip.34 -is preferably .ofsuch length asto extenddownto, or in the vvicinity of, the.bottom |.5.ofthe container Msc that substantially all of.a body of liquid in thecontainer may be drawn up by capillary action into the upperportions ofthe wicking.

A iioat means is'located in the container I4 and, preferably, `inlplan-is shaped similar -to the lateral-cross section-of the mainportionof the container, but is fof at least slightly lesser overalllateral dimensions souasrto provide .for free descent,or up and downmovement, inthe container 4withrthe surface yof the liquid. Thei'loatmeans v3'.5'may be `formedasia unitary body of any suitablematerial which will .assure vits buoyancy initheliquidfsuch as-a. massof vitreousv substance in which airfbubbles or spaces are trapped orsealed. Suclrmaterial is preferred as contrasted withwood-'orthe-li'ke-.to avoid development of sogginess or saturationwhich, due to -a resultant wetting 'of the top surface of the floatmight tend to detract from the balanced operai;` ing conditions of-thedevice. Of course such float means` maybe inthe :form of a'zramestructure to which may be vfastened va body of buoyant material in'anysuitable shape.

The iloat means 35 is preferably provided with a'V suitable Way or-'Waysforfreepassage of wick means or a plurality of'strips of wicking. SuchWays may take-the form of 'vertically-extending holes'3$36 which, ifdesired,- maybe lined with suitable sleeves 3l- 3l having r smoothinnerl surfaces. Afis-shown in Figs.` 5 and S, the sleeves 31-,31 maybemade in pairs vforA economyy in production from :molded lplasticmaterial or sheet metal, each'unit including a pair of the sleeves 3l,S'Iand'end' flanges 38, SBadapted to rest upon thetcp ofthe fioat 35'tosupportthesleeves in ,a pair'of adjacent 'holes 36,36. The passagesprovided by the-sleeves 31,-31are each preferably of a :.lateral :crosssectional shape :similar to thatfof each'wicking strip 34- and ;ofslightly-larger di'u mensionrsoA as'to assure free slippageof thewicklng strips through the holes inthe float 35'. The lining3of the:holes 36--363 in the float-Swith the plastic or metallic'sleevesl'31--3'l-also avoids'any tendency for: sharp: projections of .thesubstancefromwhichthefoat ismade catching intoxthe down movement of thefloat. Obviously the Ways for the wicking may, if desired, be formed asnotches in the edges of the float means with the strips of wicking hungadjacent the inner faces of the side walls of the container, or verticalchannels may be formed in the container side walls to receive thewicking strips with the edges of the iioat means riding closely adjacentthe inner faces of the strips in the channels.

The cover 25 preferably has a rear edge 39 of bottom 29 reversely turnedto cooperate with a spring latch 40 xed to the bottom I5 of thecontainer ll so that, with the cover bracket 25 positioned behind thelips 23, 23 of the back wall extension i9 of container te, the cover 25may be snapped into secure position, shown in Figs. 3 and 4, with thefree end of the spring latch lll engaged in front of the reverselyturned edge 39. The cover 26 may be readily removed for replenishing theliquid in the container, or for removal and replacement or cleaning ofthe wicking strips, by projecting a suitable instrument, such vas apencil or the like indicated in dotted'lines at 4| in Fig. 3, through ahole 42 in the cover bottom 29 to press the free end of spring latch 40upwardly, so as to free it from in front of the reversely turned edge39. The cover 2E may then be swung outwardly at the bottom and thenlifted free upwardly toexpose the container i4 and other elements of thedevice.

YIn order to assure eicient blanketing of the liquid surface, therebysubstantially limiting diffusion of vapors to the vaporizing space belowthe baiiie plates 3|, 3| and above the float 35, the latter may beequipped with suitable flexible wiping elements or flanges i3- Q3 ofrubber, or the like, substantially to ride against the inner surfaces ofthe side walls and the front and back walls of the container .|4. Suchflanges, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, may be mounted in flexed positionson the top of the float 35 with their free edges contacting the innersurfaces of the containers walls. By proper selection of material forsuch flanges and suitable proportioning of the dimensions thereof, onemay assure that substantially no vapor diffusion will occur in theVaporizing space other than by means of wicking exposedtherein above theoat. Such wiping elements dii-53, in addition to serving to close offspaces between edges of the oat and inner surfaces of the walls of thecontainer ld, may also be employed to wipe liquid from the latter as thefloat descends, thereby confining the liquid to an area below the top ofthe fioat 35.

In operation of the embodiment of the device of the present inventionshown in Figs. l to 6, inclusive, eicient employment in diffusion ofvapors and into circulating air may be accomplished in the followingmanner. With the cover 26 removed, and with clean wicking strips 34-34mounted in the device threaded through holes 36-36 in float 35 in theindicated manner, a quantity of liquid which it is desired to diffuseinto the air may bepoured into the container to run down through theholes in the oat to beneath the latter there to collect as body d ofliquid. Of course the buoyancy of the iioat 35 causes it to rise to anelevated position, such as that indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, with arelatively small vaporizing space provided between the top surface ofthe float and the baffles 3|, 3|. The upper portions of the wickingstrips 34-34 are exposed in this space with the float 35 eicientlyblanketing the surface of the liquid thereby assuring that substantiallythe only liquid exposed to adjacent air currents in 6 that space will bethat saturating the wicking as a result of capillary action.

When air currents are drawn through the de-v vice from the grilledinlets 3l), 3o to the outlet 2'0, incoming currents of air will bepartially ballled by the oblique baille plates 3|, 3| so that at the lipportions 32, 32 some of the air will spill over down between the lipportions of the baffle plates into the vaporizing space therebeneath. Asa result, eddy currents are created in the spilled-over portions of theentrance air and as that air turbulently passes about and between theupper portions of the wicking strips in that space, vapors from theliquid saturating the wicking will be picked up by the eddy currents andthen carried away with them into the main currents of air as the eddycurrents return to the latter and pass out therewith through the outlet2i?. This provision for eddy currents is an important featurel of thepresent embodiment of the invention since it avoids direct contactbetween high velocity air and the liquid-saturated wicking. In thisfashion the rate of vapor diffusion or evaporation is efficiently anddesirably reduced to a desired value. However, it will be understoodthat the present invention is not limited to the employment of suchbaflie means since obviously it may be practiced with a structurewherein all of the air drawn through the device is caused to passdirectly over the top of the float 35 past the upper portions of wickingsuspended thereabove, since in such apparatus if a certain rate ofcontrolled vapor diffusion is desired this may be accomplished bycareful adjustment of the velocity and/or volume of air forced or drawnthrough the device.

The device of the present invention may be efficiently employed todiffuse into air a deodorant or suitable air freshener, e. g., theproduct of Paschal U. S. Patent No. 2,326,672 of August 10, 1943, sothat the air circulated through the air conditioning unit may not onlybe conditioned as to temperature and humidity but also as to perceptiveodor. Such liquid or air freshener may contain very fine particles ofsolid material such as chlorophyl, and some ofthose particles may have atendency to collect in the pores of the wicking rather than to admixwith and be carried off by the passing air currents. As a result, thewicking exposed above the float 35 may gradually have it porosity andcapillarity reduced to an increasing degree. Consequently, the rate ofdilfusion of vapors may be reduced at a similar rate if no provision ismade for accommodating this characteristic action. The present inventionadequately takes care of this feature since, as the body i4 of liquid isdepleted, the float 35 gradually descends, thereby permitting exposureabove it of additional fresh portions of unclogged wicking whileeffectively blanketing the surface of the body of liquid. Thus asquantities of clogging material are gradually built up in the uppermostportions of the wicking, fresh unclogged areas thereof are graduallyexposed in progressive fashion above the descending blanketing oat.Proper-proportioning of the parts with respect to a given set of'conditions can readily assure that the rate of clogging and thev rateof exposure of fresh areas of wicking are so related as to maintain auniform rate of vapor diffusion with effective blanketing of the liquidsurface by the float.

y It will be obvious that variations in this rate of diffusion may beattained by provision for variable exposure of wicking surfaces, such asby.v

foreshortening some of thefstrips thereof so that certain strips can befreed from contact with the liquid at certain levels as the amount ofliquid is progressively depleted. Further, some-of the strips may besuspended with their vtop ends located at different levels bymeans ofsuitable suspending members, such as metallic rods or strips ofnon-porous material, e. ggexible metallic foil, bands of rubber, etc.Further it will-be understood that the device of the present inventionmay be employed to advantage vwith the use of an embodiment equippedwithv only a single wicking strip or with a number thereof fewer thanthose indicated by way of example in the accompanying drawing. And ofcourse the invention is not limited to the employment of a rectangularcontainer'and a `similarly shaped float substantially tting therein,since the virtues of the invention may be obtained with containershaving various other lateral cross sectional shapes and with floatsAsimilarly shaped, or diiferently shaped when provided with meanssubstantially to seal olf the surface: of the liquid from the air spacethereabove except, perhaps, in the immediate vicinities ofthe wickingsurfaces. Further, wiping of the wicking may be provided by closelyassociating the surfaces of the holes through the float with the wickingsurfaces, or by providing on the oat additional members, which may besimilar to wiping elements 3L-L33, to wipe the wicking surfacesas thefloatdescends.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among others, areeiiiciently attained and, since certain changes may beY made in theabove construction and different embodiments of the invention could bemade without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawing shall be interpreted as'illustrative and notin a limiting sense.

It is also to `be understood that the following claims are intendedto'cover all of the generic and specinc features ofthe invention hereindescribed, and allfstatementsfof the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

l. A liquid diffuser comprising, in combination, a container for a bodyof evaporable liquid, float means in said container for free descentwith the surface of such body-of liquid as the.

tainer bottom with a top portion exposed abovev said float means to beaccessible to passing currents of gaseous fiuid for transfer to thevlatter of vapors from the liquid as it saturates the Vwicking wherebyas said float means descends with depletion of liquid additional freshportions of the wicking strip are exposed above said float means.

2. A liquid diffuser comprising, in combination, a container for a bodyof liquid, float means in said container for free descent with the'surface of such body of liquid as the quantity thereof becomes depletedby evaporation, flexible wiping elements mounted on said float meansbridging across to the inner walls. of said container to assuresubstantial blanketing of the liquid sur face by said oat means, saidiloat means having a way extending from the'top side to the bot tom sidethereof, means to direct currents of air across a top portion ofsaid-container, means to suspend a strip of wicking in said vcontainerin relatively fixed position, and a strip of wicking supported on saidsuspending means and passing through the way in the float means whilepermitting free descent of the latter, said-wicking strip extending downtoward the container bottom, the portion of said wicking strip abovesaid float means being accessible to the air currents for transfer tothe latter of vapors from the liquid as it saturates the wicking wherebyas said float means descends with depletion of liquid additional freshportions of the wicking strip are exposed above said float means.

3. A `liquid diffusercomprising, in combination, a container for a bodyof liquid having a substantially uniform lateral cross-section from thevicinity of the top thereof tothe vicinity of the bottom thereof, floatmeans in said container of a shape in plan substantially the same as thelateral cross-sectional shape of the mid-portion of said container butof slightly less lateral dimensions for free descent with the surface ofsuch body of liquid as the quantity thereof becomes depleted byevaporation and for substantially blanketing the liquid surface, saidiioat means having a way extending from the top side to the bottom sidethereof, means to direct currents of air across a top portion of saidcontainer, means to suspend a strip of Ywicking in said container inrelatively fixed position, and a strip of wicking supported on saidsuspending means and passing through the Way in the float means whilepermitting free descent of the latter, said wicking strip extending downtoward the container bottom, the portion of said wicking strip abovesaid float means being accessible to the air currents for transfer tothe latter of vapors from thev liquid as it saturates the wickingwhereby as said float means descends with depletion of liquid additionalfresh portions of" the wicking strip are exposed above said float means.

4. A liquid diffuser comprising, in combination,` a container for a bodyof liquid having a substantially uniform lateral cross-section from theVicinity of the top thereof to the vicinity of the bottom thereof, floatmeans in said container of a shape in plan substantially the same as thelateral cross-sectional shape of the mid-portion of said container butof slightly less lateral dimensions for free descent with the surface ofsuch body of liquid as the quantity thereof be comes depleted byevaporation and for substan tially blanketing the liquid surface, saidfloat means having a plurality of holes vertically extendingtherethrough, meansto direct currents of air across a top portion ofsaid container, means to suspend a plurality of spaced-apart strips ofwicking in said container in relatively fixed position, and a pluralityof spaced-apart strips of wicking supportedon said suspending means andpassing through the holes -in the float means while permitting freedescent of the latter, said wicking strips extending down toward thecontainer bottom, the portion of said wicking'strips above said floatmeans being accessible to the air currents for transfer to the ylatterof vapors from the liquid as it saturates the wicking whereby as saidfloat means descends with depletion vof liquid additional fresh portions`of the wicking strips are exposed above said iloat means.

5. A liquid diffuser comprising, in combination, a container for a bodyof liquid having substantially vertically disposed side walls and of acertain lateral cross-sectional shape, a cover for the top portion ofsaid container having laterallyspaced inlet and outlet openings thereinat the same general elevation, an oblique bale plate extending upwardlyfrom a side wall of said container below the inlet opening terminatingin an elevated lip portion higher than straight lines extending betweenthe bottom portions of the inlet and outlet openings, float means in themain portion of said container below said baille plate of a shape inplan complementary to and of slightly less overall dimension than thelateral cross-section of said container for free descent with thesurface of such liquid as the latter evaporates, and a strip of wickingsupported on said lip portion depending down into the main por- 10 tionof said container through a hole in said oat means with the hole beingof substantially the same cross-sectional shape-as said strip but ofslightly greater lateral dimensions to permit free descent of said floatmeans.

FURMAN S. ABBOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile oithis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 847,840 Smith Mar. 19, 1907872,330 Cunningham 1 Dec. 3, 1907 888,393 Dunning May 9, 1906 1,035,492Subert Aug. 13, 1912 1,225,684 Shaver May 8, 1917 1,606,472 Kieffer etal. Nov. 9, 1926 2,083,607 Joseph June 15, 1937 2,417,743 Eberhart Mar.18, 1947

